More Details Emerge In Decade-Old Missing Child Case
More Details Emerge In Decade-Old Missing Child Case Save Email Print
Reporter: Caroline Brady & Associated Press
Email Address: news@kake.com
63 comments
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The child has been identified as Adam Herrman, who was 11 years old when he was last seen in 1999. The boy's parents claim he ran away.

Investigators with the Butler County Sheriff's office searched the Pine Ridge mobile home park south of Towanda Wednesday. Sheriff Craig Murphy said the lot they focused on used to have a mobile home where the boy lived with his parents. It is an empty lot now.

Adam's adoptive mother tells KAKE News he joined their family before he was three years old and he was one of three adopted children. She claims he suffered from mental problems and had a history of running away. The family moved away from the Butler County park in December of 1999 when she lost her job as park manager. Adam was never reported missing by his family.

The sheriff's department is holding a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday. Murphy said they've been working on the case for about three weeks, but wouldn't say what caused them to open the case or whether or not they believe the person they are looking for is alive or not.

Investigators said they did find a piece of information on the lot as they searched Wednesday that gave them some answers, but they would not say what they found.

Adam's family says they are contacting an attorney and plan to release a formal statement to the media soon.
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Posted by: Jen Location: Wichita on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Re: Angie at 12:37...assuming you read the comments again....so you knew his bio family? holy cow. i really feel for them; that really must be tough. they certainly have my prayers. As for the system...i worked for it for awhile and I do know that the (most) of the workers in the agency (St. Francis Community Services) really do care about the families and children. However, when it comes to SRS...I always had my suspensions about their concerns about their "numbers" around June.
Posted by: Shannon Location: Wichita on Jan 6, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Am I missing something???? The adopted parents did not want the child to know that he was adopted, the child was 11 when he was adopted, would he NOT know??? The sister should have known something was up then........hello!!!!! How could a 11 year old not know that he was in foster care then had new parents!! She should have done more to contact him.
Posted by: Pray on Jan 6, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Well first ANNIE dont comment on something you probably no nothing about, I do first hand and its a very sure bet these other people do too, if you havent lived it or know someone who has then NO you wont understand, but if you have lived it then you know what kind of hell the system puts you through. And the Kids. I hope CNN finds out about the meeting tonight and attends it, if that is what takes us to get this cleaned up before they KIDNAP anymore kids. Im so glad this has came out, now maybe just maybe with the attention were getting they may be forced to clean it up. I hope they dog us out on TV, so our higher ups will do something. Remember the meeting tonight at 7 I believe, jury room,but please check, I saw it in here, lets blow them away with our attendance, lets help Adam and all the other Adams. Call CNN any news media outside here of course. See you their...
Posted by: mominks Location: butler on Jan 6, 2009 at 07:48 AM
Only in Kansas would someone living in a trailer park be allowed to adopt a child. I have friends who have been on the waiting list for YEARS waiting for a child.
Posted by: Joel Location: Wichita on Jan 6, 2009 at 06:02 AM
Ok, generally speaking I am all for new reform of our pathetic SRS system, however we cannot expect the small number of social workers employed to take care of every single child. It is also our job as friends, family, the people next door, parent of friends,..........on and on and on to keep an eye out for anything suspicious or out of place. It's easy to blame and point fingers but when it all comes right down to it, it was society who let this child slip through the cracks. You cannot tell me that somebody didn't notice something odd or strange about the whole situation. Shame on those people for not coming forward when they had the chance, instead they put their blinders on and pretended that they didn't see anything. These people who in some perverse way call themselves parents to this child make me ill to my stomach. How they can think that the things that are even cut and dry, such as govenment fraud and in my opinion, child endangerment by not reporting this is ok. shame on them
Posted by: Trust me, I Know! Location: Wichita on Jan 6, 2009 at 01:56 AM
TO ANONYMOUS @ 2:15- You don't have to be a bad parent to lose your kids to the State! They collect kids with no evidence of abuse/neglect whatsoever. $R$ can send the police to your house claiming that they got an "anonymous tip", the police rush your kids off into "protective custody", the EMCU and $R$ interrogate your kids until they "admit" that they were abused, the DA files charges against you, therapists at youthville write up reports that the kids are traumatized and afraid to go home, the judge orders you to complete a long list of court orders that cost you $thousands to complete; during the 12-24 months it takes you to complete all the orders/parenting classes, etc, the "foster parents get attached" to your kids. DCCCA decides that it's best for your kids if they get adopted by the new parents because youre just a stranger (and poor) now. You lose your kids and the state collects a huge $grant for taking them! That's how $R$ works, and also why they're under investigation!
Posted by: jr Location: home on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Just curious how in 1999 the family lived in a trailer park and 10 years later after collecting money for bankruptcy and divorce they live in what looks like a pretty decent home.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 04:18 PM
OK how "logical" is this-- The Adoptive parents continued to rake in the cash even though he "Ran away" The Eagle reported that the couple continued to claim the child years after he disappeared, first in bankruptcy proceedings filed in 2002, and later in a divorce case filed in 2003. The divorce case was later dropped.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Lookie all the "Anony-mou-sies" are arguing with each other lol.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:50 PM
uh huh, and why would they continue to look for him and send his pic to nat'l news in hopes of someone recognizing him if they had his remains. lets try to use a little logic, please.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:43 PM
I'm sorry, elle, did I miss something? Not sure what "a man's color or race" have to do with the story. Just ranting about whatever comes to mind, eh?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:28 PM
I think they did find hid remains and now they are calling in the biological family memebers to give DNA samples to prove identity. Either way something is very wrong here. Will the adoptive parents be held accountable?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:15 PM
You guys sound like a bunch of raging rednecks with your conspiracy theories! Don't beat, abuse or NEGLECT your kids and SRS will leave you alone! Here's a HINT: Don't let them run around unsupervised having sex, doing drugs, skipping school and committing crimes. That's NEGLECT you ding dongs! You can love 'em all you want to but if you wanna keep 'em them you gotta PARENT them!!!
Posted by: Elle Location: Wichita on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:53 PM
A child should not have to suffer at the hands of their parents, state or any agency involved in their situation. We scream we want change, well, change will come when we finally get tired of the representation we have in our State and Fed agencies. It's up to the ppl to make sure we put the right ppl in office. A child's well-being should be of the utmost importance, its not, the State makes a mistake and the workers cover their own backside, they don't care about the child or the consequences of their actions. Change will come through the ppl, but we have to stand up for it and make it happen. It must start with us and we have to become sick and tired of the way things are right now. Change won't come because of a man's color or race. Its when we stand together, not divided. Its when we care about mankind and each other. Its when we stand up to the power to be and tell them no more. We are responsible for the change. We voted them in, we can vote them out.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:22 PM
ok i agree that CPS do wrong at times but because of bad parents they go over board they have given kids back to parents to find out that the child is being starved and have to take them back into CPS they go over board because you never know who to believe i am a adoptive parent of a child in CPS and i love this child as if they were my own they dug into me and my husband to make sure we were a proper fit. these people have obviously have done something really bad to this poor boy and need to be behind bars i just think unless you work or have been through the system you have no clue what these people go through everyday to protect kids they go home crying some nights because they dont know what to do they do what the state tells them they have to do and sometimes it sucks i just pray that people grow up and take care of all the kids in the world
Posted by: me Location: Ehh on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:20 AM
assumptions fly.. wow!! well i find it odd growing up in the same community and with the adoptive parents bio kids that the story is suddenly "he ran away" thats a new one!! I am sad for the bio children of this family they are forced to see realities never comprehended by any until you yourself have to look at your parents with their grand children and now question their safety! My prayers go out to the family of the adoptive parents.. as for the adoptive parents... KARMA! You will be found out!
Posted by: Question Location: kansas on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Why didn't the father get custody of his children? Why weren't the children placed with him instead of going into the custody of the state and being adopted out to be able to get the money for adoptions. If the father did nothing wrong - the children should have been placed with him - he's going to have one heck of a lawsuit if this child was injured or died after the state knew that this child was being abused in this home and left him there for whatever his fate. Actually I think a lawsuit is just what this state needs to get their attention for what is happening with the children here.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:44 AM
They moved to the Towanda area from Derby. Think he went to plesant view elementary. Not sure if Adam ever went to school in Towanda.
Posted by: grandparent Location: wichita on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:43 AM
My grandson was abused over and over again by his placement and that was OK with Youthville and SRS and the Juvenile Judge. Youthville said that it was altercations between a little child and the placement and had nerve to put that in their documents. If a parent ahd put those huge bruises and marks on a child they would have had the child removed and been prosecuted. There is a problem with the Child protective system here - it doesn't protect children......Actually I'm beginning to believe they enjoy the abuse of the children - other wise why would they allow it to continue. I'd love just once for a legislator to ask to see evidence of wrongdoing and violations of law by these agencys. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away!!!!!!
Posted by: someone needs to be concerned on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:37 AM
re: Home of the free - read wexler's report of where Deputy DA Ron Paschal stated that 80% of the children removed never go into the system and are returned -if we currently have around 1800 children in the custody of the state - does that mean that they took almost 10,000 children this year? Since they don't care about the children - how about the cost to the taxpayers for the 72 hours and more that that child is traumatized - close to $12-16 million a year just for sedgwick county. How's the budget deficit now? But what's worse is that this child obviously was abused in this home - removed and placed back in more than once. Another case of the 2 girls - with SRS knowing and condoning what was happening to this child. Time for action - contact your legislators and let them know enough is enough - stop the abuse of children by SRS, Youthville, law enforcement and the courts.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:46 AM
" Which brings me to my final question Why did school officials not report the child missing?" ----- To 'S': I grew up in Towanda and I am the same age he would be now. I don't ever remember a boy by that name being in my class. It is very possible that they moved in during the summer, around the time the mobile home park began. Which means he may have never been enrolled in school at all. How could they report a child that they never knew??
Posted by: Steph Location: KS on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Do these "adoptive" parents still have kids of their own? God, I hope not!!
Posted by: Annie on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:24 AM
"Don't be surprised if..." You have a wonderful since of imagination! Now you are saying they "get money" form people for their kids? Well here is something: "don't abuse children!" Then "SRS" won't take them away! And as for the 30,000.00...thats funny...I am beginning to think Kansas is full of crazy people!
Posted by: Peggy on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:02 AM
Well Well looks like the worthless SRS is back in the news, you all are so right about taking kids that didnt need to be taken, and let me enlighten you, the Judges work with the SRS lawyers and you as a Parent dont have a right, or grandparent, the Child doesnt have a right, just the foster parent does, and even if they (foster Parent) lies and tries to take your kids because they love them, right, the families of those kids love them, and they should have the right to the kids before a worthless Foster parent does. The foster parent wants them because they still get money even if they adopt them, my brother is trying to get his grandson but cant because the judge and srs lawyers and foster parents lie. the System abuse's the kids but the judge wont accept the the proof that foster parents are mean, well when a 3 yrs old tells you things about foster parents then listen you dummies. But know they dont, they just try and run you out of money so you cant fight..GO FIGURE
Posted by: Home of the Free??? Location: America??? on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:43 AM
For those who think CPS is a good thing, I have to wonder.. would you be as supportive of the system if it were your child taken? And don't say 'it will never happen to me'. Every innocent parent who had their child(ren) taken away said the same thing. Statistics show that Sedgwick Co, Ks has the highest rate of child removal of any county in the COUNTRY. It is esstimated that less than 20% of the children taken were ever in any danger to begin with. Yet only 10% of children taken are ever allowed to return home, even when the investigation turned up no wrong doing on the parents. Statistics don't lie. Its time people open their eyes and see the truth.
Posted by: Angie Location: Wichita on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Adam's biological parents did not give him up for adoption. SRS took him away from his biological family when he was 2 because his mom allegedly left a bruise on an older child. For 20 years now, his real mother has been beginning and ending her days crying for her lost children. His real name is Irvin, and he wouldn't be missing if he had been left with his real family!
Posted by: Don't be surprised if..... Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Once apon a time in 1999, a group claiming to protect children, I'll call them "SRS", kidnapped a boy named Adam from school because he had a bruise. The parents called 911 and were referred to a special department, that I'll call "EMCU". An investigator told them that they'd better keep their mouths shut and send them $30,000 or they'd lock them up for child abuse and take their other kids too. His scared, helpless parents (aka SRS's puppets), moved out of town. SRS sent Adam to Youthville where his name was changed, and he went from one abusive foster home to the next, until he was eventually adopted out(again). The State of Kansas got a big bonus(again), from the federal government, and lived happily ever after! SRS just now realized after 10 years that the parents/puppets never sent them that $30,000, and they've decided to get back at them by claiming that Adam has been "missing" since 1999! That'll teach those uncooperative parents! Beware, It could happen to you too/next!
Posted by: Fed up with the System on Jan 4, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Sedgwick County Delegates are holding a public forum on Jan. 6th, Tues at 7:00 P.M. Located in the Jury Room at the Sedgwick County Court House Use North Side Entrance This is a opportunity for anyone to speak out on the problems within the child protection system and family courts. stop ignoring the issues and start working towards solutions to put an end to the unlawful acts committed by all organizations and persons involved with child protection. I know some of you are not in the Wichita area but I wanted you to know about this anyway just in case you want to come or know some families in this area
Posted by: Nannetta Location: Geary County on Jan 4, 2009 at 08:06 PM
This is a sad story. Who is to blame the parents or the state? I know that the KS SRS office made a false claim that they took a six year old child of mine in December 2006. The fact is that this child was not mine. I filed a complaint with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board who failed to take action against the SRS supervisor who made the claim. (Geary County) The state of Kansas from the Governor down keeps covering up these stories trying to make half the state out to be loons. The fact is SRS can't keep covering up all of their mistakes. Who knows - ten years though that is a crock of bull that no one said anything about a child being missing.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 07:21 PM
I think we need to focus on who is at fault. The adoptive parents are at fault for not reporting this. They adopted this child before he was three years old so they had him 8 years. Follow up does not go on for 8 years nor should it. Not all adoptive or foster parents are like this. We hear more about abuse and deaths from bio families than we do foster or adoptive families. Usually boyfriends of the mother. Thats the one I see most frequently. Bad choices of boyfriends or girlfriends. Domestic violence families or extremely rigid and violent parents. Be careful this does not turn into a witch hunt of the system. Our system can always use improvement, but you only hear one side and not the whole story. This child should have been reported missing, period.
Posted by: Will Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 07:02 PM
First, children do run away. 2nd and most importantly, PARENTS REPORT IT. Im sure they did get a lawyer because they realize the gig is up...
Posted by: S Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 04:39 PM
This story makes me so sad. The parents said the child frequently ran away. The article says the child disappeared in 1999, the same year the parents moved away. My question would be what month the child disappeared in? I know you are innocent until proven guilty, but what kind of parent(s) would not report a missing 11 year old child? What about the other 2 children, did they never mention to friends, family or school officials their brother was MIA? Which brings me to my final question Why did school officials not report the child missing? I am a teacher and if a child was absent from my class for day after day I or the social worker would make a home visit. Again, how sad this story is.
Posted by: Annie on Jan 4, 2009 at 03:43 PM
I was just reading the comments here and I have to put my two cents in. I do think the parents or foster parents, whatever they were, this child was placed with them to care for. When they did not call law enforcement to find their son, wether it was the first time or the hundredth time he ran away, they were/are at fault. As a mother of 3, I know child can be a handful, but you love them no matter what and you would do whatever you had to do to help them and find them. SRS and sheriffs department can not do anything if they don't know about it. The parents did not report him missing. They are hiding something. It doesn't take a real smart person to figure that one out. But, stop pointing fingers at law enforcement and SRS. Point fingers at the horrible parents that allowed this to take place.
Posted by: Quigley Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 03:00 PM
We are adoptive parents. If either one of our children went missing, even for a short period of time, I would call everyone I could think of. These people who adopted Adam give a BAD name to those of us who have solid, stable loving homes. Not all of us are the horrid monsters that the news media portrays. Yes, there are bad parents everywhere, whether they are bios. or adoptives.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 4, 2009 at 01:35 PM
PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Posted by: t Location: kansas on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:41 PM
OK HERE i GO AGAIN. THE DA AND SRS IS A FORMAL STATEMENT AS A JOKE WITH POWER.HOWEVER, THEY TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND THEY HAVE IN THERE EYES.HOWEVER, WE AS CITIZENS NO THE TRUTH AND THEY TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD A LIERS POINT OF VIEW.IF THEY PROVE THE FOSTER PARENT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT THEY ARE COVERED BY THE STATE.THEY WILL USE THAT DEAD CHILDS AS MOTIVE THAT ITS THE CHILDS FAULT ON WHY HE'S DEAD ANOTHER LIE.THE WORSE THING ABOUT THAT IS IT WILL BE ANOTHER 10 YEARS BEFORE WE HEAR THE TRUTH ABOUT ALL THIS OR WE WON'T DUE TO THE LOST ALL THE PAPERWORK TO CONVICT THE REAL PEOPLE INVOLVED.AND I WOULD LOOK AT THE SRS AND DA OFFICE AND EVERYBODY AROUND THAT LAUGHS ABOUT THIS CHILD THAT NO ONE CAN FIND.MAYBE THATS WHY THE DA HAS TO DRINK SO MUCH /GUILT MAYBE.DON'T KNOW BUT READ HOW MUCH THE DA IS IN THE TALKS ABOUT SRS AND THERE FINDINGS.I KNOW ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE OUT OF THE DA'S OFFICE BUT IN DUE TIME THEY MIGHT BE.DUE TO THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL AND SHE CAN'T TRY NO1 ELSE.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 4, 2009 at 12:29 PM
"The state is now more involved than it has ever been in the raising of children, and children are now more neglected, abused, and mistreated than they have been in our time. This is not a coincidence, and, with all due respect, I am here to tell you: It does not take a village to raise a child. - It takes a family." - By Senator Robert Dole Protected to Death by Child Protective Services: http://protected-to-death-by-cps.memory-of.com/About.aspx
Posted by: Donna Location: Wichita on Jan 4, 2009 at 11:35 AM
In response to RE:Donna, I did read the article, I think you need to get educated, children are first placed in foster care, states custody and then adopted after the rights of the biological parents are terminated. And just because a parent loses custody to the state doesn't mean they didn't love them, in many, many cases the parents love their child/children deeply but the state, police, srs, courts they abuse their power and remove children all the time, just talk to all the parents who's lives have been destroyed due to the corruption involved with child protection. I think you need to do some research and see for yourself that so many children are being abused in foster care that were NEVER abused in their own homes. American children deserve to be protected and also they deserve to be raised by their own parents NOT THE STATE and NOT FOSTER PARENTS, don't get me wrong, some children must be removed, and by all means remove them, but these children also have extended family.
Posted by: Home of the Free??? Location: America??? on Jan 4, 2009 at 03:41 AM
Another example of the incompetence of a corrupt system. Would Adam be 'missing' if he were still with his biological parents? Why was he adopted out in the first place? Were the allegations against his parents substantiated? Were there even any allegations to begin with? Or did SRS just come in and take him out of a safe, loveing home like they have done to hundreds of other innocent parents. How many more children are we going to let SRS kidnap... how many more have to be abused, neglected, raped, tortured or come up 'missing' before something is done to stop this out of control communist regime? SRS will tell you that they don't have time to check up on all the children already in foster care because there are too many children in the system to keep track of. They will tell you how over crowded and over stressed the system is. They don't have time to follow up and check on every child. But, they have plenty of time to go out and find more children to take. Missing 10 yrs? I doubt it.
Posted by: Judy Location: canada on Jan 4, 2009 at 03:07 AM
If this was biological parents - this story would be on CNN 24/7. Obviously, there is something very wrong here - you don't just ignore a child that age running away, or dismiss it - you call the police, the media and anyone and everyone. Too many of these adoptive parents and foster parents have taken, with the help of CPS, children and babies from good, loving parents, who - like the children - will suffer for the rest of their lives because of the heartbreak of being ripped so ruthlessly from the ones they love. CPS is engaged in child trafficking, all over the world - there are hundreds of thousands of parents who have lost their children for no reasons - correction - had their children kidnapped, so that CPS can get funding for foster 'care' and adoption. This is humanity's greatest crime, ever.
Posted by: Dee Clasen Location: Wichita Ks. on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:22 PM
I will never understand a family not reporting thier child missing.My girl (April Wiss) will be missing 9yrs on Jan.-11th and they are not a day goes by that I don't think of her.Anyone that reads this pleas help me in lighting a candle for this child and all that are missing.
Posted by: Angel8 Location: Wichita on Jan 3, 2009 at 07:40 PM
Lets just have a Federal investigation into Sedgwick County. Seems like a good idea. How many children have beeen involved in issues like this? We will never know because of the corruption.
Posted by: Bambi Hazen Location: corrupt county ks on Jan 3, 2009 at 04:34 PM
This is exactly why I will fight for my daughter you can read about why I went to Jail for protecting my Daughter from the state of Kansas and the very same District Attorneys office that approved this boy's adoption reported by USA TODAY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NOT IN WICHITA THEY DONT WANT THE EXPOSURE HERE http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/states/kansas/2008-12-12-1120627356_x.htm#uslPageReturn !!! These lying, corrupt, malicious, monsters that unlawfully remove children from their homes dont care 1 bit about the victims of their madness he had a name it was Adam but to them he was a number and now In my opinion Im sure Adam is just a business casualty to them, and the last name Herrman raises questions in my book same last name as a prosecuting attorney in my case hmmmm ???? They CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM LIABILITY IN THEIR CORRUPT ACTIONS SEE FOR YOURSELF http://www.futureamericanhistory.net/cpscaselaw.htm audit in Progress into D.A's office by Legislation
Posted by: Concerned on Jan 3, 2009 at 02:11 PM
How many other children have gone missing after being adopted by abusive homes? We'll never know because those aren't stats that SRS Don Jordan keeps. It's a 99.6% safety rating - right "donnie"? By the way it's time to get rid of legislators like Brenda Landwehr that have been working on the children's committees for 12 years and it keeps getting worse on her watch. These legislators keep renewing the contracts regardless of the abuses by the contractors and their foster homes.
Posted by: Child trafficking on Jan 3, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Re:Donna... if his parents loved him they would have lost him to state custody in the first place? Where have you been? The state takes the children from parents for income from the government. SRS, Governor Sebelius, the district attorney's office, Juvenile judges are all involved in "child trafficking" right here in Kansas. It's time to impeach the governor and have an outside investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
Posted by: SRS destroys families Location: Wichita on Jan 3, 2009 at 01:58 PM
SRS doesn't even nearly adequately investigate families they place foster kids with, nor adoptive families. Why? Because they don't HAVE to...they police themselves!!! Most likely the poor kid was traumatized by SRS taking him away from healthy, loving parents and he was running away to find them. Believe it or not, people, SRS does this ALL THE TIME. And the truth is going to come out about them. It's only a matter of time. This case also shows they don't care who they place kids with. They are poor judges of character because most of the workers have no character themselves and are too busy hob nobbing with the DA's office and being "bullied" by them to lie on CINC affadavits. Now THAT's a lack of character!
Posted by: Concerned mom Location: Towanda on Jan 3, 2009 at 12:47 PM
How could a child disappear from a community, from a school for Gods sake and not get noticed. That poor child has gone ten years without being missed. The 'parents' never even reported Adam missing! That in itself is nearly an admission of guilt!
Posted by: Re:Donna on Jan 3, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I strongly encourage you to READ the article. He wasn't in state custody, he was adopted. And the last thing on this earth that his parents were would be VICTIMS. Maybe liars, but not victims. BTW, if his real parents loved him, they would have "lost" him to state custody in the first place.
Posted by: Donna Location: Wichita on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM
This story proves that children in states custody are NOT safe, how could a child go missing and no one know? This story angers me, where are the real parents? Did this child really need to be adopted out? Was he a victim of kansas child protective services? Was his parents victims of child protective services. I hope and pray the real parents know about the child and I hope they come forward if their child should of never been removed from their care like so many children are.
Posted by: Cheryl Location: Wichita on Jan 3, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Excuse me. The parents are hiding something must be. We have children and we are responsible for them until the age of 18. So if the boy is 11 then they should have filed a missing report, and by not doing so just holds them much more accountable. And if he had a disability all the more reason. Even if he did run away there should have been a report file. Where is our LAW system and what are you going to do about it. THey are our children to apoint in this day and age they need protected by our LAW system . So get busy and stop just slapping parents on the hands when they do wrong and make it right. Start making it right.
Posted by: Elaine Location: Wichita on Jan 3, 2009 at 08:59 AM
How sad that they never reported the child missing and they couldn't look out for what was the best interest of the child but now they need an attorney.
Posted by: Debby on Jan 3, 2009 at 05:51 AM
I believe that any child that is missing should be reported missing. No matter what the age. Especially an 11 year old child. This would give me cause for concern immediately and should have gave cause for concern prior to now. If my adult son was missing, I would report it to the police. This is a no brainer and I hope the truth is found out.
Posted by: interesting Location: Wichita on Jan 2, 2009 at 09:59 PM
The parents know what happened to the child for one reason they never really followed through with the missing peoples report seriously it seems and now all of a sudden they are getting an attorney to protect themselves I am sure. Hmmmmmmm pretty fishy to me.
Posted by: A mother Location: KS on Jan 2, 2009 at 09:49 PM
There's a difference between search & rescue dogs and cadaver dogs. google it. After 9 years, these weren't S&R dogs.
Posted by: CC Location: Wichita on Jan 2, 2009 at 09:29 PM
How sad for this boy that no one cared enough to call the police. Perhaps a crime was covered up and hope they will find justice for this child.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 2, 2009 at 09:27 PM
We have our own Cayley Anthony case right here is Kansas!! Maybe the "nanny" took him...
Posted by: Momma Location: Garden City on Jan 2, 2009 at 08:43 PM
Yes, 11-year-olds do run away, but usually the parents are concerned enough about the child's well-being to report them missing. The parent's story doesn't add up. They are hiding something.
Posted by: hmm on Jan 2, 2009 at 07:50 PM
must be looking for bones
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 2, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Jail the 'parents'.
Posted by: PT on Jan 2, 2009 at 04:42 PM
To bring the K-9 unit in after 9 years? What are they are really looking for?
Posted by: Lisa on Jan 2, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Clearly there is a lot of the details that are not being released yet. And yes there are 11 and 12 year olds that run away, we don't know the situation or the circumstances.....remember that before you post comments!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 2, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I would think they should investigate the family, because happy well adjusted 11 or 12 year old kids don't just run away.
Posted by: ????? on Jan 2, 2009 at 11:29 AM
no one noticed that this child was missing
Posted by: Bob Location: ICT217 on Jan 2, 2009 at 07:36 AM
How is it that a child goes so unnoticed that it takes ten years to investigate on whether the child is missing/dead/or grown and moved away?
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    Fire Department: Fireworks Are Illegal In Most Of Sedgwick County
    • Posted By: : Park city looked like the first Iraq war last night!!! It was spectacular,the whole sky was lit up waaayyyy into the night in ALL neighborhoods...like it is EVERY year and did not have ONE incident of a feild or house fire! Sorry you people in Wichita did not get to enjoy! If you're good...we might let you come and see us shoot them next year...but thats only if you're good..kiddys.
    • Posted By: Stacy: These guidelines are good. However, I'm new to Wichita and I have to say I'm shocked at how many people shoot off fireworks in the city proper and in parking lots of businesses andapartment buildings (like the one I live in). If it's illegal to do this, why on earth is it so commonplace? I was in the military for a few years, about 3 of which were spent in a lot of different areas of the continental U.S., not to mention the nearly 18 years I grew up in mosly Montana. I never before have seen an entire city with so many amateur fireworks displays inside of city limits. Law enforcement, why aren't you enforcing anything?
    • Posted By: Anonymous: I agree with Frankie although the sedgwick county fire department says they only enforce the law, they pushed for the fireworks ban. I believe the original was in 1978. I know it was after bottle rockets were made illegal in Kansas. I wish government would quit trying to protect us from ourselves, we need protection from them. I'm sure our tax dollars paid for the signs, putting them up, and then for taking them down stuck all over! KAKE needs to go through it's archives and find the original ban the sedgwick county commissioners signed and also read the constitution it says that we have the right to celebrate our independance with fireworks. For those complaining about fires in rural areas I've lived out in rural sedgwick for over 50 years and the instance of a house or wheatfield fire being caused by fireworks is pretty uncommon. It's a sparsely populated area unlike city living and fireworks tend to go up not shoot out for miles. Farmers intentionally light the stubble after harvest!
    • Posted By: Firefighter: Fireworks were banned in Sedgwick County in 1978. Why? There weren't enough firefighters and equipment to go around. Calls were waiting for a response. Firefighters came to work at 7:00 and didn't see their station until the following morning. There were was much damage to fire equipment. The County department had a tank truck roll. This type of response had been occuring for several years. This doesn't even speak to the damage to stuctures, possesions and the persons that where injured. The departments and civic leaders said enough,and fireworks were banned. Some of you say we are unamerican. Far from the truth. You have asked us to watch after you and assist in the time of need. Sometimes that means prevetion instead of action. I love fireworks as much as the next person. Fireworks have slowly made it back into many communities. If everyone can prove they have self control and caution when using fireworks then, they may come back everywhere. Stay safe this 4th.
    • Posted By: Anonymous: I guess I'm one of the hundreds of others that did not realize ALL FIREWORKS WERE ILLEGAL! (At least For those of us living outside a city limits in sedgwick county). I knew that while some cities Belle Plaine, Clearwater, Haysville, etc.. chose to allow BIG STUFF (the aerials) Wichita did not. The 78' fireworks ban was for the BIG STUFF!! The unincorporated areas had to follow sedgwick county's allowable fireworks same as the city of wichita chose to do. What year did they sneak in NO FIREWORKS AT ALL OF ANY TYPE for unincorporated sedgwick county?? It wasn't in the original ban. Living outside the city limits of any town, even when ALL FIREWORKS were allowed there were no fireworks stands out here, and the news was saying buy where you live, I called the no fire number for the sedgwick county fire department and asked where we should buy fire works that would be legal and I was told in wichita city limits. This is unconstitutional, prejudiced and segregates rural sedgwick county!!!!
    • Posted By: George Washington: This is all silly. I am going outside to set off Fireworks.
    • Posted By: Susan: Ok, I will expect everyone who is upset to show up at the next Sedgwick County council meeting. If you don't even at least call your councilman, than you should not complain.
    • Posted By: Shaun: I think that people in the county needs to remember that this day is to celebrate or freedom as a country!!! China gave us fireworks to help US and a COUNRTY celebrate. To me this is UNAMERICAN!!! Yes, i agree that the big ones that can set major fires sould probly not be shot in rural areas. And all though this law don't affect me personally, it still does as I am a soldier and an American. I am proud of my country. Even if I could only shoot off fountains or what ever I still think that is better than nothing. As long as the person shooting them off is doing it on a concrete surface I don't see why they can't have small fireworks!!!!!
    • Posted By: donald otnes: My daughter called me at 10:15 pm on July 2, 2009. She had people setting off fireworks in her housing district. The kids were firing off the ones that sound like a bomb going off. Are people that stupid to let kids have fireworks that could blow up and take a hand off or even there face.
    • Posted By: miss america: My family is apparently among the wild, irresponsible rednecks in unincorporated Sedgwick county that have shot off fireworks every year on the 4th since I was a baby. It's true there is a need to protect farmers' wheatfields, so I can understand why the county might ban the big fireworks that fly up in the air, and bottle rockets, etc. But, why shouldn't we be able to at least set off the smaller fireworks, such as fountains, that are less dangerous? Why are our families denied the privilege of celebrating the 4th in a safe, fun way just because we live in the unincorporated areas? This fireworks ban on the 4th needs to be loosened up. It's really not fair.
    • Posted By: a: Think about this people! Fireworks are loud and anoying! I am so sick of people setting them off late at night while we are trying to sleep! My baby is being kept up by fireworks because people set them off at two in the morning!Please just think about where you are setting them off like close to houses and apartment buildings. Those are not good places to be doing them!
    • Posted By: Firefighters daughter: For those who think that firefighters just "sit around" you obviously have no idea what these people do. Just looking at the 4th, I can recall as a child how we all wondered if my dad would get to finish his hamburger before being called out to yet another of the many fires he went on that day . The work they do isn't restricted to a summer holiday. Think about the gear they wear...heavy coats, boots, air tanks, even on 100 degree days. Take a walk in their boots and face the fires, car accidents, tornado/storms, floods, and other emergencies they must face with courage, calm, and strength in order to save lives and property. As for "washing the truck" and other maintenance that must be done, do you want a rusted out, broken hosed truck showing up at your house because they DIDN't do those things? I hope they do get a chance to relax, eat, sleep, etc. between the emergencies they must face. I want a well rested and ready fire fighter showing up at my house should I ever need one
    • Posted By: rebecca: hey does anyone know if the little boy that went into QT has been found? I know this isn't the topic but I just wanted to know.
    • Posted By: : h: I believe that fireworks like Black Cats can be used in Derby as well as Wichita (it's been a long time since I've done any here so I wouldn't definitely know). But they might be setting off something bigger like an M50. The main problems they've had is with the ones that burst into showers of colored balls and sparks like we see in the big displays, roman candles, M80s and the ones that spray out sparks. The Eagle Beacon, last year, said that a good rule of thumb is if they shoot out sparks more than about 6 feet from the device then they are probably illegal.
    • Posted By: h: well they are sure shooting them in derby and we're in sedgwick county either they are not banned or the police in derby are not doing anything about the ones that are shooting off fireworks already. Frankly I'm sick of it, the neighborhood kids are shooting them off close to my property and my dogs are having fits, a call to the local police dpt says nothing they can do....so if they are banned in sedgwick county then they should be banned in derby and the derby police dpt needs to start enforcing the ban, if they aren't banned in derby then they need to be, there are other ways of having a good time on the 4th of July without having to endanger your yard, my yard, your life!!!!
    • Posted By: : If everyone was a responible person that means for their self and for the one's that have children, then we wouldn't have had these laws made.The population is so high now that the fire departments are on overload because of the people that will not take responsiblity for their actions.And as far as the fire department setting around!!! Let your house be on fire and then have to wait because these people are not at their work area's because you think they are setting around.I would hate for them to be kept busy 24/7. What would happen to our town without them if that were the case.Already the street that I live on is littered with trash from fire works because people are not responsibly.(not all)
    • Posted By: D: I completely agree with Anonymous at 9:26. Linda, unless you've been living under a rock, it's been well known for years that fireworks are illegal in the city limits. They make the same announcements every year. They don't sell the "big" illegal fireworks in the city but everyone still goes out of city limits to buy them and then come back home and shoot them off out in the neighborhood streets. I've seen fireworks in my neighborhood that would rival the ones at riverfest and Lawrence Dumont stadium and they aren't legal in the city.
    • Posted By: : Cliff: That's true but when they are burned off purposely there are fire control measures in place. When someone sets a fire with fireworks they tend to run away and then it gets out of control. Like I said, I've missed work because of people who do this. The reason why they made them illegal in Sedgwick County to begin with is because most people here are not responsible enough to use them safely. And Linda: They've been telling people every year that they are illegal. Most people just don't pay attention. And they only selll fireworks in Wichita that you can set off in Wichita. That's why they've always said "Shoot them where you buy them".
    • Posted By: Rod: I'm with 'Anonymous on Jul 1, 2009 at 08:08 AM'... Helps us Obama! We need you to protect us from ourselves! ALL PRAISE OBAMA!!!
    • Posted By: Linda: Ok, for one I think if they were illegal, than why didn't we know about it along time ago. I bet that the majority of the people that lives in Wichita didn't know this, and I think it is not right to start enforcing it NOW, I mean come on the main reason why people shoot of fireworks is for the kids entertainment, Also if its going to be illegal than why on earth should selling fireworks at the stands not be? People see the signs that fireworks are illegal, but when they are driving around wichita and see firework stands it just tempts them that much more. So I think its not right.
    • Posted By: cliff: anonomous at 8;08, fireworks are a tradition on the fourth of july. and the "tinderbox "harvesed wheat fields are usually burnt off this time of year anyway even without fireworks.
    • Posted By: : Bottle Rocket Roger: What makes you think being American means you should have the right to set off explosives? For the idiots who think they need to have fireworks: how many of you have to call into work and tell your boss you can't come in because some moron set fire to your house or yard? What about when they go outside the city & set them off in newly harvested wheat fields that are nothing more than tinderboxes at this time of year? Every year for the past six years I've lost pay because idiots cannot control themselves or the fires they set.
    • Posted By: don: its really sad,,,,we are not hardly even "independent" anymore,,,the government has "used" up all are rights,,,,,like the ol' saying goes though "just be glad your not getting ALL the government you pay for",,,,,period, end of sentence !!!!
    • Posted By: : Anonymous who is coming down on firefighters and their "lazy days of washing the trucks and sleeping and cooking meals" has no clue what firefighters do and how many calls many of the stations get,though many are medical. Firefighters are not exactly unpatriotic joy-squelchers, but they are supposed to educate the general public about fire safety. If you even understood all the job entailed you wouldn't talk like that.
    • Posted By: Bottle Rocket Roger: When I lived in a town just north of wichita,we were able to shoot fireworks ALL day long for a week..Park City allows fireworks ALL day long for week,NO problems in either town! We celebrate the 4th like americans in these towns! The people that made fireworks illegal in Wichita and hate the fireworks are ALL UNAMERICAN! Go hide in you're basements and shake like a coward..the M80's are coming!
    • Posted By: : We need two things immediately. One, a petition to remove this descriminatory 1978 law against residents of the county, and secondly, another petition to remove the authors of this law if they are still in office, and any other person in authority that supports it. I'll drive any distance to sign those petitions. Our tax dollars were used to print and post these signs and will also be used again to remove them, and patrol neighborhoods looking for little kids shooting ladyfinger firecrackers. This travesty of the use of our tax dollars must be exposed with those that have attacked Independence Day.
    • Posted By: Bob: Enforce the law! Many firewoks are dangerous, destructive, and disturbing--especially to pets.
    • Posted By: : I never knew there were so many un-educated people around the state. It even says in the text of the story, that the fire department is not going to be doing extra patrolling, due to staffing. People are very careless with their fireworks in the "uncorperated" area's of the county. You add wind, and some dry wood, or brush.. And you cause a very dangerous situation, and put those "poorly staffed" fire deparments that respond in danger. ****If you live in a town/city in "sedgwick County".. you need to check your local laws. The no fireworks law - is for "uncorprated" - aka *NOT IN CITY LIMITS*
    • Posted By: Michelle: Can't we come to a compromise? Make them illigal everyday of the year, except the 4th? I agree with the ones on here that said we are celebrating our FREEDOM! This is what the USA is about. Hotdogs, baseball and fireworks! 8-)
    • Posted By: Kristy: "But many like Sedgwick County Resident Michael Dixson don't plan on breaking the law." Seriously - someone who writes for a news station should be familiar with proper grammar usage.
    • Posted By: : How ironic it is that it's Independance Day however; they tell you that you can't fire off any fireworks.....at least any that are worth paying money for. Yes, we're slowly on our way to becoming a communist country. I miss Archie Bunker!
    • Posted By: : Why even celebrate??? Pretty sad when Amerians can't participate in the tradation and celebration of America's Indepandance. I feel for you rual Sedwick County people. Sedwick County SUCKS!!
    • Posted By: Tim: The Fire Department IS NOT encouraging people to call 911 every time they see people shooting fireworks, this will create an unnecessary strain on the 911 system. The problem is being worked on and will take time to get things all straightened out. If you have an emergency or a problem that warrants calling 911 by all means call 911. What is not needed is a call to 911 every time you see someone shooting a firecracker.
    • Posted By: : The fire departments are going out of their way with NO FIREWORKS signs just because they don't want to have to work any more than they have to. Little fire here and there disrupts their lazy days of washing the trucks and sleeping and cooking meals!
    • Posted By: topper: at one time you couldn't shoot fire works in dodge, now that we can the 2nd through the 5th i think. i havent heard of more fires or whatever it is you think is going to happen if you were to allow.. its the 4th of july, and you stoping people from celebrating. thats dumb if you ask me. besides, people are going to shoot them off no matter what you do.
    • Posted By: Frankie: The Fire Department says it only enforces the law against fireworks in Sedgwick County, but I've lived here since 1938 and I remember that it was the Sedgwick County Fire Department that pushed for the County Commissioners to pass the illegal fireworks law.
    • Posted By: anoymous: It is a little confusing, because Park City has fireworks tents all over, but I thought Bel Aire and Park City were actually their own "cities", and not part of unincorporated Sedgwick County. And they are allowed in Goddard,I checked out the website. I wish there was a central list posted where they are legal/illegal, because I do think there is confusion about this, especially when I thought I heard people in Bel Aire saying they purchased permits in the past. Can anyone elaborate?
    • Posted By: Debby: If they are illegal why are they sold in the city where they are illegal?
    • Posted By: : Isn't it funny how it's called Independance Day but yet big brother wants to tell us we can't shoot fireworks? Screw you big brother!! I'm firing mine off!!
    • Posted By: Elmer: I saw on the news that you are asking the neighbors to report the people who are using fireworks to the police. Hitler did the same thing when enforcing his laws. Are we coming closer to socialist government, or are you just trying to create a community that is untenable due to loss of trust in neighbors? I can't believe we are repeating history again.
    • Posted By: bob: i think the county is forgetting what we are celebrating, our independence. so they should let us shoot them where you buy them.
    • Posted By: Justin: Land of the Free, My hind end. Restrictions yes, understandable. But, all out ban? This is not the America I fought for!!!!! Maybe before long we won't have any independence to celebrate!!! And I'm sure the fire fighters are just having to do what there told. Heck, most of them love fire or they wouldn't be doing there job.
    • Posted By: : "fire dept only enforces the law" im sure they had a say in how it was created. thats like saying police dont have a quota when writing tickets when im sure they do. how else are police measured when trying for promotions and raises--its by how many tickets they write, how many crimes they solve, ect. people are gonna shoot off fireworks and worry bout what happens later because this is the one time in the year that we get to do so! plus it helps celebrate america's birthday !!
    • Posted By: Mikea: I sure wish there was something we could do about the rednecks who insist on setting off the big heavy skybursts in our neighborhood at 1am every night. Fireworks should be illegal inside the city. Loud car radios are, and fireworks are more dangerous.
    • Posted By: Bob: Ok maybe this is a stupid question, but what is unincorporated Sedgwick County? What is meant by that?
    • Posted By: AJ Simkatu: Everyone knows that fireworks that go up in the sky are illegal, even in the city of Wichita. The problem is that nobody cares. Most people think the ban is a ridiculous overreaction to a small problem. People are sick of the nanny state telling us what we can and can't do with our own lives and property. What's next, ban skydiving, skiing, riding dirt bikes, mountain climbing? The government needs to mind its own business and stay out of ours.
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